Everything is just fine in Ranger land between coach Bryan Trottier and Eric Lindros . . . sort of.

The two had what Trottier called “a very nice short chat” yesterday to discuss No. 88’s shoddy play and subsequent benching in the third period of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Blues at the Garden.

“I told him to come back like it’s a brand new season with a smile on your face,” said Trottier. “He took [the benching] like a man. He just got put in a situation where he kept pressing.”

Lindros seemed less enthusiastic about divulging any information about the sit-down.

“What goes on in our team between players and coaches is amongst us,” said Lindros. “[But] communication is a key thing, it’s a good thing.”

When asked if there are any ill feelings shared between the two, Trottier shook his head. Lindros, though, neither confirmed nor denied a souring relationship.

“He’s our coach,” said a coy Lindros. “He’s come in and our play hasn’t made it easy on him. It’s difficult around here on a lot of people. We’re all in this together.”

Trottier said part of the center’s problem is that he is trying to do too much.

To that, Lindros said, “It’s funny how simple everything is. If you hit the back of the net, everything changes. If you put some pucks behind their goalie, things change drastically and quickly.”

It seemed the coach-player relationship was hunky-dory by the end of practice. After the formal skatearound, Lindros teamed up with Trottier on a three-on-three scrimmage, with No. 88 at one point setting his coach up for a chip in.

“I picked the sides,” said Trottier.

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The Rangers sent Jamie Lundmark and Rico Fata down to Hartford and called up Dixon Ward and Ted Donato. Lundmark has only one point this season and Trottier is worried that negative feelings may envelop the 21-year-old.

“I don’t want him to start doubting himself,” said Trottier. “We want to get him going.”

The Rangers will try to end their three-game losing streak tonight when they face the Oilers, who are last in the Northwest Division with a 3-4-3-1 record.